- Date
- May 7, 1994, 07:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place
- Dayton, WA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5646XAero Commander S2R
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 7, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940507018749A
- Case key
- 41922
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Total failure of the connecting rod.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During an aerial application flight, the pilot reported that the engine began to run rough and the chip detector light illuminated. While en route back to the airstrip the engine lost power and the pilot made a forced landing in an open field. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with rough terrain. Inspection of the engine revealed that the number five connecting rod broke.
Factual narrative
On May 7, 1994, at 0715 Pacific daylight time an Aero Commander S2R, N5646X, experienced a loss of engine power during an aerial application flight near Dayton, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot was not injured.
The pilot reported that during a spray operation, the engine began to run rough and the chip detector light illuminated. While en route back to the airstrip, the engine began to smoke and a backfire was heard. The engine lost power and the airplane was unable to make it to the airstrip. The pilot initiated a forced landing to an open field, short of the airstrip, where the airplane collided with the terrain during the landing roll.
During the inspection of the engine, it was found that the number five connecting rod broke.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5646X
- Reported as
- Aero Commander S2R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1846R
- Engine
- Wright R-1820-97, 900 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Ag Air Inc.
- Registered owner
- Ag Air Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 18, 1994
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 5,400 total · 300 in this make and model · 5,400 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.